Washing machine with a water supply to detergent supply device connection

ABSTRACT

A washing machine includes a cabinet, a washing tub disposed in the cabinet, a detergent supply device to supply detergent to the washing tub, a valve housing, having valve devices to control water supply, connected to the detergent supply device, a coupling pipe coupled to a water supply hose outside the cabinet to guide water into the cabinet, and a connection pipe to connect the valve housing to the coupling pipe, wherein the valve housing is directly coupled to the detergent supply device, and the connection pipe is fixed to the valve housing and the coupling pipe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2010-0104392, filed on Oct. 26, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine havinga water supply unit assembly with improved wear resistance at aconnection region between a water supply hose and the water supply unitassembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a washing machine, including a rotary tub to contain laundry,such as clothes, and a motor to drive the rotary tub, performs a seriesof washing cycles, such as washing, rinsing and spin-drying, usingrotary motion of the rotary tub.

The washing machine is connected to an external water supply hose sothat water is supplied to the washing machine. The water introduced intothe washing machine passes through a detergent supply device containingdetergent, where the water is mixed with the detergent and supplied intoa washing tub.

A valve device is provided to control water supply based on the washingcycles, such as preliminary washing, main washing and rinsing. The valvedevice is disposed ahead of the detergent supply device. The valvedevice is connected to the detergent supply device via a flexible hose.

When the hose is connected to the valve device and the detergent supplydevice, clamps are coupled to connection regions therebetween to preventwater leakage. For this reason, the number of assembly processes isincreased, and cost of parts is increased.

An integral water supply unit assembly, assembled by directly couplingthe valve device to the detergent supply device and connecting a rigidconnection pipe to the valve device, is used. Since the integral watersupply unit assembly is generally rigid, however, it may be difficult toassemble the water supply unit assembly to a cabinet due to interferenceof a front plate in a state in which the front plate is assembled to thecabinet. For this reason, the washing machine assembly processes may bepartially changed.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machinehaving a water supply unit assembly exhibiting improved wear resistancewherein the assemblability of the washing machine is improved.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washingmachine includes a cabinet, a washing tub disposed in the cabinet, adetergent supply device to supply detergent to the washing tub, a valvehousing, having valve devices to control water supply, connected to thedetergent supply device, a coupling pipe coupled to a water supply hoseoutside the cabinet to guide water into the cabinet, and a connectionpipe to connect the valve housing to the coupling pipe, wherein thevalve housing is directly coupled to the detergent supply device, andthe connection pipe is fixed to the valve housing and the coupling pipe.

The valve housing and the coupling pipe may be made of differentmaterials.

The coupling pipe may be made of a material exhibiting higher wearresistance than the valve housing.

The coupling pipe may be made of polyamide (PA).

The valve housing may include a plurality of valve mounting parts, atwhich the respective valve devices are mounted, and a plurality ofdischarge pipes connected to the respective valve mounting parts, and atleast one of the discharge pipes may be coupled to the detergent supplydevice.

The washing machine may further include a steam generator to supplysteam to the washing tub, wherein one of the discharge pipes may becoupled to the steam generator.

The valve housing may be fixed to the detergent supply device by ascrew.

The connection pipe may be rigid.

The connection pipe may include a first connection pipe and a secondconnection pipe spaced a predetermined distance from each other and afixing member to fix the first connection pipe and the second connectionpipe.

The connection pipe may have an outer diameter corresponding to an innerdiameter of the coupling pipe, and the connection pipe may be fitted inthe coupling pipe.

The valve housing and the connection pipe may be integrally formed.

The coupling pipe and the connection pipe may be integrally formed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washingmachine includes a cabinet forming an external appearance thereof, awashing tub disposed in the cabinet, a detergent supply device to supplywater and detergent to the washing tub, a valve housing, having a valvedevice to control water supply, connected to the detergent supplydevice, a bracket coupled to a water supply hose outside the cabinet andconnected to the valve housing to guide water to the valve housing, andan assembly port formed at the rear of the cabinet, wherein the valvehousing is directly coupled to the detergent supply device, and thebracket passes through the assembly port from the inside to the outsideof the cabinet in a state in which the bracket is connected to thedetergent supply device and the valve housing.

The bracket may include a coupling pipe coupled to the water supply hoseto guide water into the cabinet and a support plate formed around thecoupling pipe.

The bracket may further include a socket coupling part protruding fromthe support plate.

The washing machine may further include a fixing socket coupled to theassembly port and the bracket to fix the bracket to the cabinet.

The fixing socket may include a socket body and a flange formed bybending one end of the socket body, the socket body may be fitted in theassembly port so as to be coupled to the bracket, and the flange may befixed to the outside of the cabinet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washingmachine includes a cabinet forming an external appearance thereof, awashing tub disposed in the cabinet, a detergent supply device to supplydetergent to the washing tub, a valve housing, having a valve to controlwater supply, connected to the detergent supply device, a bracketincluding a coupling pipe coupled to a water supply hose outside thecabinet to guide water into the cabinet, and an assembly port formed atthe rear of the cabinet, wherein the valve housing is fixedly coupled tothe detergent supply device and the coupling pipe, the coupling pipe ismade of a material exhibiting higher wear resistance than the valvehousing, and the bracket passes through the assembly port from theinside to the outside of the cabinet in a state in which the bracket isconnected to the detergent supply device and the valve housing.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a methodof assembling a washing machine includes preparing a cabinet open at thetop and the front thereof, the cabinet having an assembly port formed atthe rear thereof, assembling a detergent supply device, a valve housingto be connected to the detergent supply device and a bracket to beconnected to the valve housing and coupled to a water supply hoseoutside the cabinet to guide water into the valve housing to prepare arigid water supply unit assembly, assembling a front plate to thecabinet so as to form an edge at which the top and the front of thecabinet join each other, shifting the bracket through the assembly portfrom the inside to the outside of the cabinet so that the water supplyunit assembly is placed in the cabinet, and adjusting the position ofthe water supply unit assembly in the cabinet so that the water supplyunit assembly is fixedly mounted in the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing principal components of a washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the principal components of the washingmachine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a water supply unitassembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state of the washing machine according to theembodiment of the present disclosure before the water supply unitassembly is mounted in a cabinet;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are views showing a process of mounting the water supplyunit assembly in the cabinet of the washing machine according to theembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a view showing the water supply unit assembly fixed to therear of the cabinet of the washing machine according to the embodimentof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing principal components of a washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2is a plan view showing the principal components of the washing machineaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 1 includes a cabinet 10forming the external appearance thereof, a washing tub 20 disposed inthe cabinet 10, a rotary tub 30 rotatably disposed in the washing tub20, and a motor 40 to drive the rotary tub 30.

A front plate 11, forming the edge of the front and top of the cabinet10, is coupled to the upper side of the front of the cabinet 10. Acontrol panel mounting unit 12 is coupled to the front plate 11.

The cabinet 10 is provided at the front thereof with an introductionport 14, through which laundry is introduced into the rotary tub 30. Theintroduction port 14 is opened and closed by a door 60 mounted at thefront of the cabinet 10. A door glass 61 to allow a user to see theinterior of the rotary tub 30 is mounted inside the door 60.

The washing tub 20 is provided at the front thereof with an opening 21formed at a position corresponding to the introduction port 14. A gasket22 is connected between the introduction port 14 and the opening 21 toseal a space defined between the introduction port 14 of the cabinet 10and the opening 21 of the washing tub 20. The gasket 22 is fixed to thecabinet 10 and the washing tub 20. The gasket 22 may be formed of anelastic material to absorb vibration from the washing tub 20.

A drainage pump 70 and a drainage pipe 72 to discharge water from thewashing tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10 are mounted below thewashing tub 20.

The rotary tub 30 includes a cylindrical part 31, a front plate 32disposed at the front of the cylindrical part 31, and a rear plate 33disposed at the rear of the cylindrical part 31. The front plate 32 hasan opening 32 a through which washing water is introduced anddischarged. A drive shaft 42 to transmit power from the motor 40 isconnected to the rear plate 33.

A bearing housing 50 to rotatably support the drive shaft 42 is mountedat the rear wall of the washing tub 20. The bearing housing 50 may bemade of an aluminum alloy. The bearing housing 50 may be inserted intothe rear wall of the washing tub 20 during injection molding of thewashing tub 20. Bearings 52 are mounted between the bearing housing 50and the drive shaft 42 so that the drive shaft 42 smoothly rotates.

The drive shaft 42 is disposed between the rotary tub 30 and the motor40. One end of the drive shaft 42 is connected to the rear plate 33 ofthe rotary tub 30, and the other end of the drive shaft 42 extends outof the rear wall of the washing tub 20. When the drive shaft 42 isdriven by the motor 40, the rotary tub 30 connected to the drive shaft42 rotates about the drive shaft 42.

A plurality of through holes 34, through which washing water flows, isformed at the circumference of the rotary tub 30. A plurality of lifters35 to lift and drop laundry during rotation of the rotary tub 30 ismounted inside the rotary tub 30.

During washing and rinsing cycles, the motor 40 rotates the rotary tub30 in alternating directions at low speed. During rotation of the rotarytub 30, laundry in the rotary tub 30 is repeatedly lifted and dropped sothat contaminants are removed from the laundry.

During a spin-drying cycle, the motor 40 rotates the rotary tub 30 inone direction at high speed so that water is separated from the laundryby centrifugal force acting on the laundry.

A water supply unit assembly 100 to supply water and detergent to thewashing tub 20 is mounted above the washing tub 20. An assembly port 15and a fixing socket 80 to fixedly assemble the water supply unitassembly 100 to the cabinet 10 are provided at the rear of the cabinet10.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a water supply unitassembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the water supply unit assembly 100 includes adetergent supply device 110, a valve housing 120, a connection pipe 130and a bracket 140.

The detergent supply device 110 includes an upper housing 112, a lowerhousing 113, a cover 111 to close the upper housing 112 and a detergentcontainer 114 detachably coupled to the lower housing 113 at the frontof the lower housing 113. The detergent container 114 has a detergentstorage part 118. The detergent storage part 118 may be divided intoseveral spaces by partitions.

The upper housing 112 may include a first upper housing 112 a defining awater supply part 115 and a second upper housing 112 b defining an inletport 117 communicating with the water supply part 115. The first upperhousing 112 a and the second upper housing 112 b may be separatelymanufactured and then coupled to each other. Alternatively, the firstupper housing 112 a and the second upper housing 112 b may be integrallyformed. A flow channel to allow the inlet port 117 to communicate withthe water supply part 115 is defined in the second upper housing 112 b.

The valve housing 120 is connected to the second upper housing 112 b viathe inlet port 117. A valve device (not shown) to control the supply ofwater is mounted in the valve housing 120. If the inlet port 117 formedat the second upper housing 112 b is not located below the water supplypart 115 of the first upper housing 112 a, the valve device (not shown)may protrude upward from the first upper housing 112 a with the resultthat assembly efficiency of the washing machine may be lowered. For thisreason, the inlet port 117 is provided below the second upper housing112 b so that the inlet port 117 is located below the water supply part115. As a result, the flow channel defined in the second upper housing112 b extends upward from the circumference of the inlet port 117 to thewater supply part 115.

The water supply part 115 may include first, second, third and fourthwater supply parts 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d divided by partitions.The inlet port 117 may include first, second, third and fourth inletports 117 a, 117 b, 117 c and 117 d communicating with the first,second, third and fourth water supply parts 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115d, respectively.

The upper housing 112 is provided at the bottom thereof with a pluralityof through holes 116 to allow water introduced into the water supplypart 115 through the inlet port 117 to be supplied to the detergentcontainer 114 therethrough.

The lower housing 113 has an outlet port 113 a. The lower housing 113 isprovided at opposite sides thereof with guide rails 113 b to which thedetergent container 114 is slidably coupled.

The detergent container 114 is open at the top thereof. The detergentstorage part 118 may include a main washing detergent storage part 118a, a decolorant storage part 118 c, a rinse storage part 118 d and apreliminary washing detergent storage part 118 b divided by partitions.

The main washing determining storage part 118 a is open at the rearthereof so that supplied water flows to the outlet port 113 a via thefirst water supply part 115 a and the through holes 116. The decolorantstorage part 118 c and the rinse storage part 118 d are provided at thebottoms thereof with siphon devices 118 e and 118 f, respectively,through which supplied water flows to the outlet port 113 a. The bottomsof the main washing detergent storage part 118 a, the preliminarywashing detergent storage part 118 b, the decolorant storage part 118 cand the rinse storage part 118 d are inclined rearward so thatdetergents are guided to the outlet port 113 a.

Based on washing, rinsing or spin-drying, water, introduced into thedetergent supply device 110, is selectively introduced into thedetergent storage parts 118 a, 118 b, 118 c and 118 d through the first,second, third and fourth water supply parts 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115d so that the water is mixed with detergent.

During preliminary washing, water, supplied through the second inletport 117 b, is introduced into the preliminary washing detergent storagepart 118 b through the through holes 116 of the second water supply part115 b so that the water is mixed with detergent.

During main washing, water, supplied through the first inlet port 117 aand the third inlet port 117 c, is introduced into the main washingdetergent storage part 118 a through the through holes 116 of the firstwater supply part 115 a so that the water is mixed with detergent.

Rinsing may be performed twice. During first rinsing, water, introducedthrough the fourth inlet port 117 d, is introduced into the decolorantstorage part 118 c through the third water supply part 115 c so that thewater is mixed with decolorant. During second rinsing, water, introducedthrough the first inlet port 117 a and the fourth inlet port 117 d, isintroduced into the rinse storage part 118 d through the fourth watersupply part 115 d so that the water is mixed with rinse.

The upper housing 112 has fixing protrusions 119 a at which couplingholes are formed. The fixing protrusions 119 a are screw coupled to thecabinet 10 shown in FIG. 1 so that the detergent supply device 110 isfixed to the cabinet 10.

Fixing protrusions 119 b are provided below the inlet port 117. Thevalve housing 120 is screw coupled to the fixing protrusions 119 b sothat the valve housing 120 is fixed to the detergent supply device 110.

The valve housing 120 is coupled to the detergent supply device 110 tosupply water to the detergent supply device 110. A valve device (notshown) to open or close a flow channel defined in the valve housing 120is mounted in the valve housing 120. The valve device (not shown)controls the supply of water according to an electrical signaltransmitted from a controller (not shown).

The valve housing 120 includes first and second introduction pipes 123and 124, a discharge pipe 122 connected to the first and secondintroduction pipes 123 and 124, and a valve mounting part 121 disposedabove flow channels defined by the first and second introduction pipes123 and 124 and the discharge pipe 122. The valve mounting part 121communicates with the flow channels. The valve device (not shown) ismounted at the valve mounting part 121 to open or close the flowchannels. The valve device (not shown) may be fixed in a coupling portformed at the valve mounting part 121.

Different kinds of water may be introduced into the first introductionpipe 123 and the second introduction pipe 124. For example, cool watermay be introduced into the first introduction pipe 123, and hot watermay be introduced into the second introduction pipe 124.

The discharge pipe 122 may include first, second, third, fourth, fifthand sixth discharge pipes 122 a, 122 b, 122 c, 122 d, 122 e and 122 f.The first, second, third and fourth discharge pipes 122 a, 122 b, 122 cand 122 d are connected to the first, second, third and fourth inletports 117 a, 117 b, 117 c and 117 d provided at the detergent supplydevice 110.

The fifth discharge pipe 122 e is connected to a steam generator (notshown) provided to supply high-temperature steam into the rotary tub 30shown in FIG. 2 to supply water to the steam generator. Water dischargedthrough the fifth discharge pipe 122 is guided to the door glass 61shown in FIG. 2 to clean the door glass 61.

A plurality of flow channels corresponding to the componentsconstituting the discharge pipe 122 is defined in the valve housing 120.That is, the number of components constituting the valve mounting part121 disposed above the flow channels corresponds to that of thecomponents constituting the discharge pipe 122. Consequently, the valvemounting part 121 includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixthvalve mounting parts 121 a, 121 b, 121 c, 121 d, 121 e and 121 f.

The discharge pipe 122 is coupled to the inlet port 117 of the detergentsupply device 110. The discharge pipe 122 may be fitted into the inletport 117. A sealing member (not shown) may be provided to prevent waterleakage from a coupling region between the discharge pipe 122 and theinlet port 117. The sealing member (not shown) may be an annular elasticmember.

The valve housing 120 is provided at the lower part thereof with afixing part 125 formed at a position corresponding to the fixingprotrusions 119 b of the detergent supply device 110. In a state inwhich the discharge pipe 122 is coupled to the inlet port 117, thefixing part 125 is screw coupled to the fixing protrusions 119 b of thedetergent supply device 110. The valve housing 120 is fixed to thedetergent supply device 110 by screw coupling.

The first and second introduction pipes 123 and 124, the discharge pipe122 and the valve mounting part 121 of the valve housing 120 may beintegrally formed. Alternatively, a plurality of components may becoupled to constitute the valve housing 120. The valve housing 120 maybe formed by injection molding.

The valve housing 120 may be made of polypropylene (PP). Polypropyleneis easily injection molded and not easily broken at temperatures belowzero Celsius.

The connection pipe 130 is connected to the valve housing 120 to guidewater to the valve housing 120. The connection pipe 130 includes a firstconnection pipe 131 and a second connection pipe 132 connected to thefirst introduction pipe 123 and the second introduction pipe 124 of thevalve housing 120, respectively, and a fixing member 133 providedbetween the first connection pipe 131 and the second connection pipe 132to fix the first connection pipe 131 and the second connection pipe 132.The first connection pipe 131 and the second connection pipe 132 extendin the same direction in a state in which the first connection pipe 131and the second connection pipe 132 are spaced a predetermined distancefrom each other.

The fixing member 133 is fixed to the first connection pipe 131 and thesecond connection pipe 132 between the first connection pipe 131 and thesecond connection pipe 132. A plurality of fixing members 133 may beprovided.

Discharge ends of the first connection pipe 131 and the secondconnection pipe 132 may be coupled to the first introduction pipe 123and the second introduction pipe 124 of the valve housing 120,respectively. The end of the first connection pipe 131 may be fitted inthe end of the first introduction pipe 123. Alternatively, the end ofthe first introduction pipe 123 may be fitted in the end of the firstconnection pipe 131. The coupling between the second connection pipe 132and the second introduction pipe 124 is achieved in the same manner asabove. Sealing members (not shown) may be provided to prevent waterleakage from coupling regions therebetween.

The first and second pipes 131 and 132 and the fixing member 133 of theconnection pipe 130 may be integrally formed by injection molding.Alternatively, the first and second pipes 131 and 132 may be separatelymanufactured and then coupled to each other via the fixing member 133.The connection pipe 130 may be made of the same material as the valvehousing 120, i.e. polypropylene-based synthetic resin.

In the above structure, the connection pipe 130 and the valve housing120 are separate members. Alternatively, the connection pipe 130 isintegrally formed at the valve housing 120 to constitute a portion ofthe valve housing 120. That is, the connection pipe 130, extending to anexternal water supply hose (not shown), may be integrally formed at thevalve housing 120.

In the related art, a screw thread is formed at the introduction end ofthe connection pipe 130 so that an external water supply hose (notshown) is directly coupled to the connection pipe 130. In this case, thescrew thread formed at the connection pipe 130 may be worn due to screwcoupling to the water supply hose (not shown). In particular, if acoupling part (not shown), such as a nut, provided at the water supplyhose (not shown) is made of metal, the screw thread may be more easilyworn. If the screw thread is worn, the coupling force between theconnection pipe 130 and the water supply hose (not shown) decreases withthe result that water may leak from a coupling region therebetween.

Polypropylene, of which the connection pipe 130 is made, exhibits lowwear resistance. For this reason, the screw thread formed at theconnection pipe 130 may be easily worn upon screw coupling to the nut,which is made of metal.

Consequently, the water supply unit assembly 100 is coupled to the watersupply hose (not shown), and a bracket 140 is provided to reduce wear ofthe screw thread at a coupling region therebetween.

Coupling protrusions 134, each having a coupling groove for coupling tothe bracket 140, are provided at the introduction ends of the firstconnection pipe 131 and the second connection pipe 132. The bracket 140is fixed to the connection pipe 130 by screw coupling to the couplingprotrusions 134.

The bracket 140 is coupled to the external water supply hose (not shown)and the connection pipe 130 so that the external water supply hose andthe connection pipe 130 communicate with each other. To this end, thebracket 140 includes first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143. Thebracket 140 may include a support plate 141 formed around the first andsecond coupling pipes 142 and 143 and a socket coupling part 145protruding from the support plate 141 to the introduction sides of thefirst and second coupling pipes 142 and 143.

Screw threads are formed at the introduction sides of the first andsecond coupling pipes 142 and 143. The external water supply hose (notshown) is screw coupled to the first and second coupling pipes 142 and143.

The first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143 are made of a materialexhibiting high wear resistance to reduce wear of the screw threadformed at the first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143. Sincepolypropylene, of which the valve housing 120 is made, exhibits low wearresistance, the screw thread formed at the valve housing 120 may beeasily worn upon screw coupling to the nut, which is made of metal. Forthis reason, the first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143 are made ofa different material than the valve housing 120.

The first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143 may be made of amaterial exhibiting higher wear resistance than polypropylene. Forexample, the bracket 140 may be made of polyamide-based nylon resin.Polyamide exhibits high wear resistance against metal. In particular,polyamide-based nylon resin, such as PA6 and PA66, may be used to formthe first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143.

The first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143 and the support plate141 of the bracket 140 may be integrally formed. In this case, injectionmolding may be used. Alternatively, a plurality of components may beseparately manufactured and coupled to constitute the bracket 140.

Discharge ends of the first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143 arecoupled to the first connection pipe 131 and the second connection pipe132 of the connection pipe 130. The end of the first coupling pipe 142may be fitted in the end of the first connection pipe 131.Alternatively, the end of the first connection pipe 131 may be fitted inthe end of the first coupling pipe 142. Coupling between the secondcoupling pipe 143 and the second connection pipe 132 is achieved in thesame manner as above. Sealing members 135 may be provided to preventwater leakage from coupling regions therebetween.

Coupling protrusions 144, corresponding to the coupling protrusions 134of the first and second connection pipes 131 and 132, are provided atthe discharge ends of the first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143.The bracket 140 is fixed to the connection plate 130 by screw couplingbetween the coupling protrusions 144 and the coupling protrusions 134 ofthe first and second connection pipes 131 and 132.

In the above structure, the connection pipe 130 and the bracket 140 areseparate members. Alternatively, the connection pipe 130 may beintegrally formed at the bracket 140 to constitute a portion of thebracket 140. That is, the connection pipe 130, extending from thedischarge sides of the first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143 andconnected to the valve housing 120, may be integrally formed at thebracket 140.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state of the washing machine according to theembodiment of the present disclosure before the water supply unitassembly is mounted in the cabinet, FIGS. 5A to 5C are views showing aprocess of mounting the water supply unit assembly in the cabinet of thewashing machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure,and FIG. 6 is a view showing the water supply unit assembly fixed to therear of the cabinet of the washing machine according to the embodimentof the present disclosure.

Generally, the front plate 11 is mounted in the cabinet 10, and thedetergent supply device and the valve device are mounted in the cabinet10 to assemble the washing machine. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, it isdifficult to mount the water supply unit assembly 100 in the cabinet 10in a state in which the front plate 11 is mounted to the cabinet 10since the length of the water supply unit assembly 100 corresponds tothe length of the cabinet 10 in the frontward-to-rearward direction. Inthe washing machine in which the detergent supply device and the valvehousing are coupled to each other, and the water supply unit assembly100, which is rigid, is directly connected to an external water supplysource, therefore, the water supply unit assembly 100 is mounted in thecabinet 10 and then the front plate 11 is mounted in the cabinet 10 inreverse order. However, reverse assembly order changes a productionprocess, increasing production cost. For this reason, it may benecessary to maintain the assembly order even using the water supplyunit assembly 100.

First, the front plate 11 is mounted to the cabinet 10. The front plate11 may be fixed to the cabinet 10 by one or more screws. Subsequently,the control panel mounting unit 12 is mounted to the front plate 11. Thecontrol panel mounting unit 12 has a coupling protrusion 12 a, and thefront plate 11 has a coupling groove 11 a corresponding to the couplingprotrusion 12 a. In a state in which the coupling protrusion 12 a of thecontrol panel mounting unit 12 is fitted in the coupling groove 11 a ofthe front plate 11, the control panel mounting unit 12 is rotated aboutthe coupling protrusion 12 a so that the control panel mounting unit 12comes into tight contact with the front plate 11. The control panelmounting unit 12 is fixed to the front plate 11 using a fixing member,such as a screw.

The control panel mounting unit 12 has a mounting port 12 b in which thedetergent supply device 110 is mounted. The mounting port 12 b is formedin a shape corresponding to the edge of the front opening of thedetergent supply device 110. Consequently, the front of the detergentsupply device 110 is coupled to the mounting port 12 b.

The assembly port 15, through which the bracket 140 passes, is providedat the rear of the cabinet 10 so that detergent supply device 110 iscoupled to the mounting port 12 b in a state in which the front plate 11and the control panel mounting unit 12 are mounted to the cabinet 11.Also, the fixing socket 80 to fix the bracket 140 to the cabinet 10 isprovided at the rear of the cabinet 10.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the water supply unit assembly 100 is inclined sothat the bracket 140 is located at a lower position. When the watersupply unit assembly 100 is inserted into the cabinet 10 so that thebracket 140 passes through the assembly port 15, a space, in which thedetergent supply device 110 will be inserted into the cabinet 10, isformed at the upper front of the cabinet 10.

The detergent supply device 110 is rotated downward and put in thecabinet 10. Subsequently, the water supply unit assembly 100 is moved tothe front of the cabinet 10 and coupled to the control panel mountingunit 12 so that the water supply unit assembly 100 is mounted in thecabinet 10.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the detergent supply device 110 is fixed to thecabinet 10 so that the water supply unit assembly 100 is fixed to thecabinet 10. The fixing protrusions 119 b of detergent supply device 110are screw coupled to the cabinet 10 so that the detergent supply device110 is fixed to the cabinet 10. Subsequently, the fixing socket 80 iscoupled to the assembly port 15 at the rear of the cabinet 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing socket 80 is coupled to the cabinet 10and the bracket 140 so that the bracket 140 is fixed to the cabinet 10.

The fixing socket 80 includes a socket body 82 having a coupling port 83and a flange 81 formed by bending one end of the socket body 82. Thesocket body 82 is formed in a shape corresponding to the assembly port15 so that the socket body 82 is coupled to the assembly port 15. Thecoupling port 83 is formed in a shape corresponding to the socketcoupling part 145 of the bracket 140 so that the coupling port 83 iscoupled to the socket coupling part 145. The first and second couplingpipes 142 and 143 pass through the coupling port 83 to protrude out ofthe cabinet 10 so that the first and second coupling pipes 142 and 143are coupled to the external water supply hose (not shown).

The fixing socket 80 is coupled to the assembly port 15 and the bracket140. The fixing socket 80 is fixed to the cabinet 10 by a first screw84. The bracket 140 is fixed to the fixing socket 80 by a second screw85. A plurality of first screws 84 and a plurality of second screws 85may be provided.

As is apparent from the above description, the washing machine with theabove-stated construction does not use a flexible hose, thereby reducingthe number of assembly processes and cost of parts. In addition, anintegral water supply unit assembly uses a separate bracket, therebyimproving wear resistance at a coupling region between the integralwater supply unit assembly and an external water supply hose.Consequently, product damage and water leakage due to wear at thecoupling region are prevented.

Also, an assembly port is formed at the rear of a cabinet. Consequently,a front plate is first assembled and then the water supply unit assemblyis assembled, thereby employing the same assembly process as when usingthe existing flexible water supply hose.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet formingan external appearance thereof; a washing tub disposed in the cabinet; adetergent supply device to supply water and detergent to the washingtub; a valve housing, having a plurality of valve devices to controlwater supply, connected to the detergent supply device on one side ofthe valve housing and comprising a pair of introduction pipes providedon another side of the valve housing; a bracket which includes a pair ofcoupling pipes which are each configured to be coupled to a respectivewater supply hose outside the cabinet, and a support plate to hold thepair of coupling pipes; a pair of connection pipes, made of a differentmaterial than the pair of coupling pipes, connecting the pair ofintroduction pipes and the pair of coupling pipes, each of theconnection pipes being connected to one of the introduction pipes on oneend and connected on another end to one of the coupling pipes; anassembly port formed at a rear of the cabinet such that the pair ofcoupling pipes extend outside of the cabinet through the assembly port;and a fixing socket to fix the pair of coupling pipes to the cabinet,wherein the valve housing comprises a plurality of first discharge pipesdirectly coupled to the detergent supply device and a plurality ofsecond discharge pipes coupled to a device other than the detergentsupply device.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein thebracket further comprises a socket coupling part protruding from thesupport plate.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein thefixing socket comprises a socket body and a flange formed by bending oneend of the socket body, the socket body is fitted in the assembly portso as to be coupled to the bracket, and the flange is fixed to theoutside of the cabinet.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 1,wherein the pair of connection pipes and the pair of introduction pipesare made of same materials.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 1,wherein each of the connection pipes comprises a, connection couplingprotrusion disposed on the another end which protrudes outwardly from anouter circumferential surface of the connection pipe, the connectioncoupling protrusion being connectable to the one coupling pipe connectedto the connection pipe, to fix the connection pipe to the bracket. 6.The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the bracket furthercomprises a bracket coupling protrusion disposed on the bracket tocorrespond to the connection coupling protrusion, to fix the connectionpipe to the bracket.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 5,wherein the pair of connection pipes are disposed in parallel, and afixing member is disposed between the pair of connection pipes toconnect the pair of connection pipes.
 8. A method of assembling thewashing machine of claim 1, the method comprising: preparing the cabinetto be open at a top and a front thereof, the cabinet having the assemblyport formed at the rear of the cabinet; assembling the detergent supplydevice, the valve housing to be connected to the detergent supply deviceand the bracket to be connected to the valve housing and to be coupledto the respective water supply hoses outside the cabinet which areprovided to guide water into the valve housing, the assembled detergentsupply device, valve housing, and bracket together forming a generallyrigid water supply unit assembly; assembling a front plate to thecabinet so as to form an edge at which the top and the front of thecabinet join each other; shifting the bracket through the assembly portfrom an inside to the outside of the cabinet so that the water supplyunit assembly is placed in the cabinet; and adjusting a position of thewater supply unit assembly in the cabinet so that the water supply unitassembly is fixedly mounted in the cabinet.
 9. The method according toclaim 8, wherein the front plate is first assembled and then the watersupply unit assembly is assembled.